Westlife's Nicky mourns father

Westlife star Nicky Byrne is grieving the loss of his father who died suddenly.

Sources close to the family said they were "absolutely devastated" by the unexpected death of Nicky Byrne Snr.

The boy band star was known to be very close to his father and had thrown him a huge party to celebrate his 60th birthday at a hotel in north Dublin last December.

In a statement the Byrnes said: "The family would like to confirm the sad news of the very sudden loss of a husband, dad and granddad today."

They described Nicky Snr as "a wonderful man who will be sadly missed by everyone whose life he touched".

The death is the third tragedy to hit 31-year-old Nicky in recent weeks. Only last month, the father-of-two returned to his native Dublin to pay his final respects to his friend, Boyzone's Stephen Gately, after he died suddenly in Majorca.

And another friend and fellow Dubliner, Beverley O'Sullivan, a former star with Irish pop group Fifth Avenue, died in a car crash in India.

Westlife bandmates Mark Feehily, Shane Filan and Kian Egan were said to be making arrangements to be with Nicky to help him through his loss.

Nicky is married to Georgina Ahern, daughter of the former Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and they have twin sons, Rocco and Jay.